Brian McSweeney et Moi |
On the Galtee Ridge |
Startled Hare |
A definite improvement |
Gentle Galty mountains |
Sunday January 8th;
Yet again I was off to the Galtees today and I was delighted to have the gregarious Kevin Ring for company. Any day out with Kevin is a good day and this one proved no exception. Having had only one outing with him since our all too brief trip to the Alps last summer it was great to get out and have a natter. We opted for the most westerly mountain in the range Temple Hill. This was the location for my first ever hill walk. A fair few years ago now, a very overweight me was cajoled and encouraged up the hill by Pascal Sweeney. The weather that day was cloudy and wet but I was hooked and I owe Pascal a huge debt for that introduction to the great outdoors. Anyway back to the present and our adventure began even before we left the car, as thanks to my extraordinary navigation skills we went up the wrong approach road and so started off from a different location at Scrowmore rather than Pigeonrock Glen.
The south ridge of Temple Hill is a long gentle slope and as the weather was good there was little pause in the conversation. Soon we were at the summit and we headed for Lyracappul. The steep 220mtr pull to the summit ensured that I had a good appetite for lunch. As we ate we were joined by a large group from some club or other. We left the crowded top and descended down into the atmospheric glen under Knockaterrif Mor and followed the Blackrock river out until we joined the Pigeonrock Glen. Here thanks to my great navigating we had a stiff hundred meter pull over the shoulder of Temple Hill and then back to the car. It was a short outing but a very enjoyable one. We firmed up on our commitment to head to Scotland together and headed home.
Kenmare; January 10th to 13th;
Due to one thing and another and since I had some time off from work, my wife Margaret and I booked a house from the Bay Hotel Kenmare for a few days and headed down on Tuesday afternoon. One bonus of this trip was that we were able to take Ruby. Kenmare is a lovely little town nestled on the shores of the Kenmare river that divides the Everagh and the Beara peninsulas. Busy and brimming with tourists in the high season at this time of year it is quieter but still has loads to offer. So after checking in and getting ourselves settled I went for a very nice 9 kilometer run along by the river. Since the start of the new year I had begun a new dieting and exercise regime in an effort to try and shed some of the excess pounds and regain a good level of fitness. I knew I would lapse on this break so I was determined to try and stay a little ahead of the game. Ruby is such an odd little dog and found her new surroundings very strange. She was on constant alert over the few days. After we arrived she followed me up the stairs, but as we live in a bungalow she is not familiar with them and she refused to come back down. However she soon mastered the trick and thereafter the whole house was hers to explore.
Approaching Adrigole |
Winding road to the Healy Pass |
View from the Healy Pass |
Sunday January 22nd;
A happy Frank |
Approaching the Horses Glen |
5 comments:
Was having lunch on the summit of Stoompa at 1pm on the 22nd and saw 2 people pottering around to our south. Was waiting for them to come up to us but they (ye?) headed back around to Mangerton. Missed the eagles unfortunately!
was indeed a great day out Stephen and was a bonus to see the eagles...
We were on the summit of Mangerton north at 1pm. We saw somebody moving very fast along the top of Stoompa perhaps even running. Give me a shout and we will head out sometime.
Loving the name. Perhaps it should have been three ropes from our conversation, you must bring one of them next time.
Pictures are so stunning & beautiful. You had a great trip……
Killarney is also very nice place like full of life.......must take a look...in... www.19thgreen-bb.com
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